Bishop delivers rock 'n' soul goods to Belly Up

Guitarist Elvin Bishop snakes his way through a thrilled Belly Up crowd.

A career retrospective of sorts, Elvin Bishop’s show at Belly Up Tavern was a reminder that Duane Allman and Dickey Betts had another Southern boy hot on their heels. Bishop’s intricate dual guitar harmonies (co-guitarist Bob Welsh) were in plain evidence on this rainy winter’s night.

Serving up equal parts blues and Southern rock ’n’ soul styling’s, things kicked off with a short Bo Diddley–inspired instrumental followed by the old jump ’n’ blues standard “Hey-Ba-Ba-Re-Bop.” Bishop was soon joined by opening act Paul Thorn, for Bishop’s classic “What the Hell Is Going On.”

The evening’s offerings also included a helping of Bishop’s seminal sides from his FM heyday, including “Stealing Watermelons,” “Juke Joint Jump,” “Traveling Shoes,” and “Rock My Soul.” Live favorites “Going Fishin’” and “Gettin’ My Groove Back” were also performed.

To conclude the night, Bishop snaked through the crowd, stabbing out lines for the happy throng of admirers. As he unstrapped his guitar to leave, he grinned and exclaimed, “I hope to see y’all again real soon!” Let’s hope so.